Introduction

With mature styling, a practical cabin with space for seven and real 4x4 ability the Outlander is a smart choice of rural workhorse in 2.2-litre diesel form. Official economy is 55.3mpg for the GX2 manual and – rather unusually - it’s actually almost achievable in real world driving.

The Outlander is also comfortable and spacious. The cabin may lack somewhat in style and sophistication but it is durable and offers plenty of space in both the front and rear. There’s a large boot and all but the entry-level GX2 model, come with seven seats, the back two of which are surprisingly roomy. Folding all of the seats flat frees up a huge 1680 litres of space.

All models come with all-wheel drive as standard. The system is aimed at genuine off-road driving instead of just helping out on a patch of on-road slush. The differential can be locked and the gearbox set to low range, so on undulating, muddy or gravel-covered surfaces there is plenty of traction. Paired with a braked tow-weight of 2000kg, the Outlander is an ideal car for towing horseboxes or caravans.

It drives well too – the controls are nicely weighted, although the steering could be a little more precise, but the suspension does a good job of absorbing the worst lumps and bumps, even if body roll is a problem at higher speeds on particularly twisty roads. That said, the Outlander has plenty of grip and always feels safe, stable and secure.

The Outlander offers the complete 4x4 package. It’s large, practical and capable, yet it has real off-road and poor weather capability, plus it manages reasonable fuel economy. Inside it may lack the the polish and upmarket ‘feel’ of some rival cars, but if rugged durability is what you value above all else then the Outlander is worth a look.

Borrowing £7,500 over 4 years with a representative APR of 25.4%, an annual interest rate of 25.4% (Fixed) and a deposit of £0.00, the amount payable would be £239.77 per month, with a total cost of credit of £4,008.96 and a total amount payable of £11,508.96.